Yes
24% (48)

No
76% (152)

200 total votes.

Starting what he called “an uncomfortable discussion,” Mayor Jerry Sanders helped launch a statewide conversation on mayoral involvement in schools Wednesday during the first in a series of California forums hosted by former Washington, D.C. education Chief Michelle Rhee.

Rhee brought her controversial brand of reform to a packed house at the University of San Diego, where she advocated for parent empowerment and the need to abolish “last in, first out” seniority-based union hiring rules — issues she said local parents and educators have contacted her about since she started her nonprofit organization, StudentsFirst, a year ago.

Mostly Rhee recounted some of the struggles she had running the then-abysmal Washington, D.C. schools and the resistance she met with unions and others who dubbed her “dragon lady,” or “teacher terminator.” She also shared stories of poor performing schools that made dramatic improvements.

“The first thing we have to do is make schools have a more welcoming environment,” she told the crowd that was heavy with StudentsFirst members.

Rhee was made famous after she was featured in “Waiting For Superman,” the 2010 documentary that painted a grim picture of American schools and showcased inovative charter schools.

She wants to nudge more mayors into getting involved with schools even though California’s constitution assigns power over local education to elected school boards.

The issue is making its way into the San Diego mayor’s race, with candidates and other city officials offering vague promises to take on the issue. Earlier this year, a well-funded effort to expand the five-member city school board to include four appointed members failed to make the ballot.

“This is an uncomfortable discussion...because we all have different ideas about this,” said Sanders, who will leave office at the end of next year due to term limits. “I don’t think any of us think education is working perfectly right now. Either there is not enough money or it’s in the wrong place...”

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Rhee’s husband, moderated the event. A panel included two well-regarded teachers, who both received layoff notices last year and were eventually hired back; and parent advocate Sally Smith.

“I’m in,” said panelist Jessica Graham, an English teacher at Kearny High School, whose students rallied around her when she received layoff notice last year. “Something has to change. Teacher effectivness and merrit has to count.”

StudentsFirst is on tour along with the California Mayors Education Roundtable, with stops planned in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Jose and Sacramento.

“At the end of the listening session, we will be making a determiniation of what our next step is (and) make the determination of entering California or not.”

A year old, StudentsFirst claims nearly 900,000 members — 130,000 in California and roughly 12,000 in San Diego County — and has worked in several states on education reform laws.

Even so, the issue is making its way into the San Diego mayor’s race, with candidates and other city officials offering vague promises to take on the issue. Earlier this year, a well-funded effort to expand the five-member city school board to include four appointed members failed to make the ballot.